Process of treating emulsified oils



G. EGLOFF ET'AL Original Flgd-Sept. 18. 1920 Nov. 15, 1927.

rnocss oF TREATING EMULSIFIED oILs NN t-- Patented Nov. 15, 1927. .j

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV'EGLOFF AND'HAIRY P. BENNER, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

PROCESS OF TREATING EMULSIFIED OILS.

Application led September 18, 1920, Serial No. 411,340. Renewed February 12, 1927.

This invention relates to improvements in process of treating emulsified oils and refers more particularly to a processof simultaneously dehydrating and cracklng emulsified petroleum oils.

The invention is particularl adapted to the treatment of heavy emulsi ed crude petroleums such as Mexican and California mr emulsified bottom settlings. 4

The object of the invention is to, as Vpart of a continuous process, dehydrate the oil in such a way as to prevent foaming and also convert a substantial portion of the oil content into gasoline, kerosene or similar light hydrocarbons. This is accomplished by hrst subjecting the emulsiied oil to surface distillation and then to a cracking reaction in which' the vapors may be superheatedr The process, if desired, may operate as a continuous one in which fresh oil is constantly fed to the still.

In the drawing, the single figure is a view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of an improved apparatus for carrying out the process. l

Referring in dtail `to the drawings, 1 designates-the furnace, 2A the burner, 3, the bridge wall, and 4 the stack. In the fire box is mounted a double still member comprissa ing a lower shell 5 and upper shell 6, connected by the conduits 7. Each shell is pro- Ikvided with a residue drawotl' pipe 8, controlled by throttle valve 9. The stills are also provided with suitable manhole plates $5 10. The upper still 6 has a vapor outlet pipe 11, which projects into the lower end ofI a dephleginator 12 and is provided with a spaced cap member 13 to prevent the reflux condensate from falling back directly into the still. The dephlegmator is provided with the alternately disposed baileslll and at its upper end is provided witha vapor pipe 15 having throttle valve 16 and leading to condenser coil 17 seated in condenser box 18. The condenser 17 is connected by means of an extension 19 having throttle valve 2O to the upper end of a receiver 21. This receiver is provided with gas outlet pipe 22 controlled by throttle valve 23 and liquid I0 drawoif pipe 24'controlled by throttle valve 25. It also has pressure gauge 26 and liquid level gauge 27.

Oil 1s supplied to the lower shell through feed line 28 having throttle valve 29 and leading to the discharge side of pump 30. The inlet side of the pump is connected to a suitable source of oil supply. Reflux condensate is returned to the feed line 28 through pipe A31 provided `with throttle valve 32. If desired, the reflux condensate may be delivered elsewhere through branch pipe 33 having throttle valve 34. The vapor space of the lower shell member 5 may be heated through the longitudinally extending burners 35 slotted at their inner faces as shown in dotted lines Aat 36 to permit the gases of combustion to escape. It is to be understood that there is one of these burners at each side of the still. If desired, similar burners 37 slotted as shown at 38 may be provided with the uppershell member. It is to be understood that the burners 2, 35 and 37 may be all independently operated.

The process may be carried out as follows: Emulsiied California crude oil may `be charged into the still and sub'ected to a vapor pressure of pounds t roughout the system by suitably regulating the valves. The oil is then heated by means of the burners 35 so as to cause surface distillation and dehydration of the emulsiiied oil. By initially heating the oil in this manner, the tendency to foam will be avoided. After the water and oil have been taken off to say, 40% of the original charge, Ithe side burners 35 may be shut off and the lower burner 2 started. The flames or gases of combustion will not only distill the oil at a cracking temperature and pressure but the gases of combustion as they pass around the upper shell 6 will superheat the vapors and facilitate the cracking reaction. In this method of carrying out the process, a uniform pressure of 50 pounds may be maintained on the oil from the still to the receiver. As the process continues, the reflux condensate will be returned continuously to the system, the valve 32 being open and the valve 34 being closed.

As a modified method of carrying out thu process, the vapors in the shell 6 may be superheated more intensely7 by means of the burner 37 where it is desirous of subjecting the oil vapors to a more intense crackin reaction. Asa still further modification o the process, a differential pressure may be main- `tained on the system, as for example, a pressure of 100 pounds on the still members and dephlegmator, 75 pounds on the condenser coil and 50 pounds on the receiver.

We claim as our invention:

1. A process of treating emulsied petroleum oil consisting in subjecting the oil to surface heating to dehydrate it, then applying heat to the lower portion of 'the oil to further distilland crack it, superheatin'g the generated vapors to further crack them and meantime maintainingasubstantial pressure on theV oil under treatment and -continuing the process until the oil has been dehydrated and a substantial portion thereof converted `15 to lower boiling point hydrocarbons.

2. A process for dehydrating and cracking emulsiied petroleum. oil consisting in feeding a bulk supply of oil into a still, in then rst subjecting the oil to a surface heating only 'to dehydrate the same, in then applying heat to the entire body of oil While under a superatmospheric pressure to crack said oil in the still, and in discharging the vapors from said cracking operation for con- 25 densation and collection.

GUSTAV EGLOFF. HARRY P. BENNER 

